Sprayable cleaning composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sprayable cleaning composition. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sprayable cleaning composition including a surfactant system, a hydrotrope and a specific glycol ether solvent, wherein the surfactant system and the glycol ether solvent are in a weight ratio of from 5:1 to 1:5. The composition is substantially non-irritating and/or non-stinging when sprayed from a spray dispenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sprayable cleaning composition comprising:
 i) from about 2% to about 15% by weight of the composition of a surfactant system, wherein the surfactant system comprises an anionic surfactant and a co-surfactant, wherein the co-surfactant is selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant and mixtures thereof;   ii) from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition of a hydrotrope selected from the group consisting of sodium cumene sulphonate, sodium toluene sulphonate, sodium xylene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof; and   iii) from about 1% to about 10%by weight of the composition of the glycol ether solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers of:
 a) Formula (I): R 1 O(R 2 O) m R 3 , wherein R 1  is a linear or branched C4, C5 or C6 alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl; R 2  is ethyl or isopropyl; R 3  is hydrogen or methyl; and m is 1, 2 or 3; 
 b) Formula (II): R 4 O(R 5 O) n R 6 , wherein R 4  is n-propyl or isopropyl; R 5  is isopropyl; R 6  is hydrogen or methyl; and n is 1, 2 or 3; 
 c) Formula (III): R 7 O(R 8 O) p R 9 , wherein R 7  is methyl or ethyl; R 8  is ethyl or isopropyl; R 9  is hydrogen or methyl; and p is 1, 2 or 3; 
 d) Formula (IV): R 10 O(R 11 O) q R 12 , wherein R 10  is n-propyl or isopropyl; R 11  is ethyl; R 12  is hydrogen or methyl; and q is 1, 2 or 3; and 
 e) mixtures thereof; 
 wherein the surfactant system and the glycol ether solvent are in a weight ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1:5. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein i) the surfactant system comprises an alkyl ethoxylated sulfate anionic surfactant and an amine oxide co-surfactant. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the amine oxide surfactant is selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyl amine oxide, linear or branched alkyl amidopropyl amine oxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the anionic surfactant and the co-surfactant are present in a ratio of from about 4:1 to about 1:1. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the glycol ether solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-propyl ether and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 5  wherein the glycol ether solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1  further comprising iv) from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the composition of a non-ionic surfactant selected from alcohol alkoxylate surfactant or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the composition of a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polyalkylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, polysaccharide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a chelant. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a builder. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a bicarbonate. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises an alkanol amine 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 1  further comprising from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the composition of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of C2-C4 alcohols, C2-C4 polyols, poly alkylene glycol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition has a Newtonian viscosity of from about 1 mPa·s to about 50 mPa·s at about 20° C. as measured using the method defined herein. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition has a shear thinning rheology profile having a high shear viscosity at about 1000 s −1  of from about 1 mPa·s to about 50 mPa·s at about 20° C., and a low shear viscosity at about 0.1 s −1  of from about 100 mPa·s to about 1000 mPa·s, at about 20° C. as measured using the method defined herein. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition has a neat pH range of from about 8 to about 13 at about 20° C. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition has a reserve alkalinity of from about 0.1 to about 0.3, expressed as g NaOH/100 mL of composition at a pH of about 10. 
     
     
         18 . A cleaning product comprising a spray dispenser and a sprayable cleaning composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is housed in the spray dispenser. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning product according to  claim 18  wherein the composition is substantially non-irritating and/or non-stinging to the skin, eyes, nose, throat or combinations thereof of a consumer when sprayed from the spray dispenser. 
     
     
         20 . A method of cleaning soiled dishware comprising the steps of:
 a) optionally pre-wetting the soiled dishware;   b) spraying a cleaning composition according to  claim 1  onto the soiled dishware;   c) optionally adding water to the soiled dishware for a period of time;   d) optionally scrubbing the dishware; and   e) rinsing the dishware.